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A nice luxury product

I own the Clinique cream shaper for eyes in two shades - black diamond and chocolate lustre. The black diamond is a smaller version of the product (a free gift with purchase) and the chocolate lustre is the full size version. I love the effect an eyeliner can give, but often find that it disappears after a couple of hours (or moves itself around my face to give a panda eye look). However, this cream shaper has, as the name would suggest, a very creamy (almost gel like) consistency in a pencil, which actually seems to 'set' a couple of minutes after application so you don't get the sliding effect that other pencils give.

As it is in pencil form, I find it much easier to apply than with an eyeliner brush - you can get a really steady straight line, and you can get very close to the lash line too. As it is creamy, it doesn't drag across the skin and doesn't feel dry or scratchy. If you are quick, you can blend the eyeliner a little, but you do have to be very quick because once it dries it won't blend. The colours available are lovely - both the black and chocolate colours I have can be used subtly or built up for a more dramatic effect, and they have a really nice amount of shimmer (enough to brighten the eyes but not too over the top).

When it comes to removing the eyeliner, a small amount of eye make up remover will do the trick (it isn't too stubborn to remove). I have on occasion found that if I have applied the eyeliner very close to the lash line, there may be hints of eyeliner still there the morning after but they are very tiny. This is quite expensive for an eyeliner, considering there are much cheaper brand offering products for a quarter of the price, but I really think if you are after a long lasting product with a great colour choice, it is worth the money.

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A good mid range eye pencil in a true black shade.

It's amazing what a year will do. Last year, I wore make-up only under duress, and never eye make up. I have extraordinarily deep-set eyes, and so eye-shadow can barely be seen, mascara tends to give me panda eyes (especially if I forget, as I often used to, and rub my eyes) and liquid eyeliner just smudges. These days, though, I wear the lot - foundation, mascara (though I sometimes do wonder why I bother) - pretty much everything but lip stick (and even that sometimes).

I do like a good eye pencil though. Given that my lashes are fine, thin and fair, a black pencil line on my lower lids gives my eyes a bit of definition, and, with the help of a bit of mascara, makes it look like I actually possess eye lashes.

As I don't use liquid eyeliner, I am picky about my pencil. It needs to be soft enough to leave a decent mark without pressing too hard, yet hard enough to retain a point and to give a clean, non-smudgy line. Clinique's Cream Shaper for Eyes seems to do the trick.

I don't buy make up very often, so I do not have a large selection of colours and types. I use colour 01 - black diamond - most work-days (I take weekends off). It produces a fairly sharp, deep black line, and is easy to guide just behind my lower lashes. It goes on smoothly, and lasts reasonably well. It does smudge a bit over time, though not as badly as other pencils I have used. Again, this is likely partly due to the deep-setness of my eyes, meaning my lower lashes actually touch my under-eye skin, and partly due to my habit of forgetting I'm wearing make-up and rubbing my eyes when tired. I take my make-up off at night (another recent revelation), but this stuff lasts long enough that I sometimes still see a thin line the following morning (possibly due to inefficient removal on my part).

I have a proper eye-pencil sharpener. The pencil is easy to sharpen accurately, without shredding or peeling, or breaking at the point. Having said that, it doesn't sharpen quite so well when using an ordinary pencil sharpener; I would therefore recommend investing the couple of quid on a proper make-up sharpener.

Besides the aforementioned black diamond, Clinique's Cream Shaper for Eyes comes in a number of colours. These are grouped in general categories - nudes (of which black diamond is apparently one), tawnies (there is only one colour - Brown Sugar - in that range) and a pair of 'violets'. I can only speak for the black, though based on the performance of that stick, I'd happily try one of the others, if I could get out of the black habit (so to speak). I'd particularly like to try the Deep Cobalt (falling within the violet range), though, according to Clinique's website, it is sold out online.

Online, this pencil will set you back £13.00 for 1.2g. Mine, on the other hand, was free with one of Clinique's regular give-aways, where if you buy two products, you get a whole clutch of stuff for free. It has lasted a long time, to the point where I cannot remember when or where I acquired it (I think possibly New York in 2007). I do realise you're supposed to throw out eye make-up after a while, but I'm too stingy to do that. This has never caused me any kind of irritation, even when I've got some on the inside of my lower lid. The clear plastic lid fits well and keeps the tip creamy, and thus easy to apply.

This is good stuff. When I finally run out, I do plan on replacing it, and possibly even push the boat out and try more than one colour. I also have one of Clinique's Kohl sticks, but I prefer the cream shaper - it goes on more easily, gives a better defined colour, and needs far less effort to apply.

My make up regime may still be evolving, but when I find a product that works as well as this one does, I shall be sticking with it.

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Well worth the price.

When I sometimes put pencil eyeliner on, I find the eyeliner part very hard and so it hurts a little to put it on my eyes. However, this one is so soft and smooth, it's a little like liquid eyeliner, but smudgable. The colour is also very intense. I find with products such as Rimmel pencil eyeliner, that it has to be applied many times to get anywhere near a colour that doesn't look as if it's washed out. However, with this, it was like I had coloured in my eyelid in felt tip pen, so showing that it would last a long time, as you need only a little.

Being Clinique, the price tag is slightly more that your typical Boots eyeliner, but usually if you buy two or more products at the same time, you get a bag of freebies- that's how I came across this eyeliner in the first place. I think it is well worth the price though- it is very versatile, and will stay in one place if you put it there, although abviously, if you keep touching your eyes, you will have to reapply. Being Clinique as well, you feel as though it is something luxurious on your eyes, so adds to the general feeling of looking nice. You can go for smoky eyes, or bold sections of colour, and is soft, so feels lovely. The only problem is taking it off, which can take a while.

I recommend it for day use as well as going out, as it lasts so long, so why not feel luxurious all the time?

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Love.

As a huge fan of eyeliner, I have tried almost every type from every brand ranging from liquids and creamier gels to pencils, kohls and loose eastern kohls. I have quite sensitive eyes so some are thrown out after just one or two uses whilst some become staples in my make up case - Clinique 'Cream Shapers' being one of the latter.

These eyeliners were voted "Best Eyeliner" in Cosmopolitan magazines 2008 Beauty Awards so that stands for something before I even start!These creamy, soft pencils claim to 'define with just a hint of shimmer' and glide on with 'intense, long wearing colour'. They are non smudging and water resistant so brilliant for those with especially sensitive, watery eyes. They are Ophthalmologist tested so you can trust they will work for all eye types with no problems (usually!)They retail for £10.00 - or just under now due to the VAT decrease - and are available in six shades currently, though Clinique often release limited edition colours and duo ended pencils with gift sets or around Christmas etc.The six shades available presently are:

Black Diamond - A rich, intense black with slight shimmer. Though personally I see a little navy in it too, especially if applied softly and in natural, bright light.Brown Sugar - My favourite! A neutral, medium bronze with brown undertones (brilliant for cool toned users like myself that can look slightly off in bronze shades with too much red / copper tones).Chocolate Lustre - A deep brown with some plum in there too. Subtle neutral sparkles throughout.Starry Plum - A medium, rich purple toned plum. Perfect for green eyes!Frosty - A pale, shimmery white great for opening up small or tired eyes. In my opinion this shade does not perform or apply quite as well as the others.Egyptian - A blackened green shade with gold and olive green duochrome shot through. Beautiful and versatile - great for any eye colour.

The 'Cream Shapers' are 'packaged' just like any other pencil liner. They're not the automatic type so they need sharpening whenever you see fit, and are made of a plastic-ey material, rather than wood. Easy to use, no fuss and last a long time :-)

I use this product in many different ways; Smudged along the lashes - usually the lowers - for a sultry, smokey effect; Lined neatly along the upper lashline for a sophisticated look that really opens the eyes; Blended all over the lid for a quick and easy way to make up your eyes in a rush and applied to the inner rim (or waterline) of the eyes to define.They are just the right consistency - Creamy enough so that they don't tug on your eyelid, but not so creamy that they smear or 'melt' on touching your skin. They blend easily after applying, either using your fingers, a cotton bud or a pencil / smudge brush. However, they won't budge or smear once they have 'set' so move quickly!

They last extremely well throughout the day without smudging or transferring around the eye. My friend also uses these liners and has oily skin / lids and doesn't have any problems either, so they truly are great in that aspect. They don't fade either so I don't find myself needing to reapply throughout the day like I do with some other pencil liners. A+ all round! I just with Clinique would hurry up and make some more shades to add to my collection :D

Definately try the 'Cream Shapers' if you're looking for a long lasting, easy to use liner. They won't break the bank and you won't be dissapointed either (I hope!)